https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-179-Advanced-Dark-Magic-Unveiled/13458362/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-181-Do-You-Also-Enjoy-Midnight-Strolls-/13458364/
Chapter 180: The Trial
Chapter 180: The Trial
Although Sherlock hadn’t figured out the reason, he still kept the advanced dark magic book.
He had a somewhat unreliable guess.
Perhaps Amy felt that the only way to return to the correct timeline was to live long enough.
But even if it came to that, Sherlock would never use such magic to achieve immortality.
Aside from the issue of whether it was evil or not, the mere act of splitting the soul and its impact on the primary soul was something he couldn't accept.
The person who would emerge at the end might not even be himself anymore.
So, even though he kept the book, Sherlock had no intention of learning how to create a Horcrux. He just thought that his perspective on this magic might change, and he might come up with other ideas later.
On the second day of working at the Department of Mysteries, Sherlock didn't take Amy back to the Leaky Cauldron.
The Hall of Time had enough rooms and facilities, so they could each have their own space.
By the second day, he no longer had time to study the Horcrux matter.
A floating paper airplane flew into the Department of Mysteries' hall, then through the door of the Hall of Time, and into Sherlock's hands.
Amy had already experienced the magic of these paper airplanes yesterday and still found them fascinating.
Sherlock unfolded it and read the contents.
"To John Watson,
The trial of Algernon Tuft will be held today at 10:00 AM by the Wizengamot. As a direct witness in this case, you are required to be present before the trial begins.
The trial will take place in Courtroom 6. Please do not be late.
—Wizengamot Court Clerk, Frank Wellesley"
Sherlock put down the letter, having anticipated this trial.
Not only would he be a witness, but Eddie and Madame Selwyn would also attend as witnesses.
Checking the time, it was already 9:30 AM. He didn't waste any more time, instructing Amy to stay in the Hall of Time and not to wander into other rooms. Then, Sherlock headed to Courtroom 6.
The Wizard's High Court—Wizengamot—is an ancient Wizarding organization, even older than the Ministry of Magic.
After the Ministry of Magic was established, the Wizengamot was incorporated into it, becoming a part of the magical political system.
Dumbledore, after becoming the headmaster of Hogwarts, long served as the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
However, due to his additional roles as the President of the International Confederation of Wizards and the headmaster of Hogwarts, he was often too busy to attend every Wizengamot trial.
So, most trials were presided over by the Minister of Magic.
All courtrooms were located on the tenth sub-level of the Ministry of Magic, directly below the Department of Mysteries.
The courtroom's structure was similar to the Hall of Death in the Department of Mysteries.
Stone steps led down from the top, with a centrally placed iron chair fixed to the ground, complete with shackles. This chair was where the accused would sit.
When Sherlock arrived at the courtroom, it was already filled with many wizards.
All of them wore deep purple robes with an exquisite silver "W" embroidered on the left chest. These purple-robed wizards were all members of the Wizengamot.
Even in modern times, the Wizarding court still used the oldest trial methods.
The trial proceeded with the inquisitor asking questions, a scribe recording the proceedings, and the verdict determined by a show of hands.
In other words, the accused would confess to their crimes, and whether they were guilty, the severity of their guilt, and the punishment would be decided by the Wizengamot wizards.
Of course, magical law provided a standard, but that was just a guideline. After all, Wizarding laws could be modified at any time (for example, Arthur Weasley privately altered laws to facilitate his Muggle technology modifications, creating loopholes for himself).
The Wizengamot consisted of about 50 wizards, and while not all were present for this trial, nearly 40 were in attendance.
In Dumbledore's absence, the inquisitor sitting in the central position, dressed in a red robe, was the current Minister of Magic, Harold Minkan.
He nodded and smiled at Sherlock as he entered.
Sherlock returned the smile.
Upon entering, a court official immediately directed him to his seat as a witness.
He was seated on the lowest tier of stone steps, close to the iron chair, from where he could easily see the inquisitor's face.
As Sherlock sat down, he felt someone staring at him from his diagonal opposite. Looking up, he saw that it was Eddie.
Witnesses are not allowed to sit together; each has a separate seat to prevent communication during the trial.
Madame Selwyn also sat in one of the witness seats. Normally, she would be seated in the voting benches in her red robe, but today she was here as a witness.
The trial had not yet begun, and the Wizards on the elevated platform were whispering among themselves.
Sherlock could not make out what they were discussing, but the expressions on their faces were far from pleasant.
At ten o'clock, the trial began on schedule.
Looking pale and disheveled, Algernon was escorted into the courtroom by two Aurors and seated on the central chair.
The surrounding light dimmed, and only a few torches hanging on the dark stone walls flickered with an unsettling glow.
After Algernon was brought in, the heavy door at the entrance slammed shut with a loud thud.
The two Aurors released Algernon, allowing him to sit on the iron chair in the center.
As soon as he sat down, the manacles and chains on the armrests sprang up, binding him securely to the chair and restricting all his movements.
Once the defendant entered the courtroom, the scarlet-robed Wizards on the platform fell silent.
The courtroom was quiet, and Minkan's cold and stern voice echoed through the space.
"The defendant has arrived, and we can begin. Are you ready?"
A thin, bespectacled male wizard, the scribe of the trial, nodded slightly.
"We can begin, sir."
"The trial of August 3rd", Minkan declared loudly. "This is the case of Auror Office, Third Auror Squad member, Algernon Tuft, for violating the 'Regulations on the Management of Dark Magic' and the 'Internal Management Regulations of the Ministry of Magic.'"
His voice was loud, clearly amplified by a spell, ensuring every Wizard in the courtroom could hear clearly.
After introducing all the trial participants, the scribe, and the witnesses, the trial officially began.
Minkan was the primary inquisitor, but the questioning was conducted by the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Crouch Sr.
"On June 1st, did you participate in the Auror operation in Wales to rescue the former Head of the Department of Mysteries?" Crouch's voice was deep and calm.
Algernon, seated in the center of the courtroom, looked haggard and lifeless as he responded.
"Yes."
"Before that mission, did you have prior contact with the Death Eaters and inform them of the operation's time, personnel list, and Apparition location?"
"I, I—" Algernon's face turned fearful. "I don't know."
Crouch frowned.
"You don't know?"
Algernon buried his head in his chained hands, looking incredibly distressed and desperate.
"On a day at the end of May, it felt as if I was under a spell, unable to control my actions."
He sobbed, his voice breaking.
"I know I am guilty and am willing to accept punishment, but I do not want to be labeled as a traitor. I was under the Imperius Curse; I did not betray the Ministry of Magic willingly."
Algernon's words and demeanor were observed by the Wizards on the platform. Some dismissed his claims with a sneer, while others shook their heads in pity.
Sherlock could only sigh inwardly.
Indeed, those capable of being undercover agents have a knack for it. They can turn black into white, and even the most obvious lies can be delivered with a straight face.
Crouch's expression remained unchanged, and he called out a name in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Barty Crouch Jr."
A pale young man in the witness seats nodded slightly.
"You were the captain of the Third Auror Squad and had the defendant under your command during the operation in Wales. Did you notice any signs that he was under the Imperius Curse?"
Barty Jr. spoke calmly and respectfully.
"He was normal. During Auror training, all Aurors learn how to identify if a Wizard is under the Imperius Curse, and Algernon did not exhibit any such signs."
"Do you have anything to say, defendant?" Crouch's voice was cold.
Algernon's face was still full of sorrow and fear, with tear marks on his cheeks.
"You don't know their methods. Their Imperius Curse is far more powerful than usual. The techniques we learned at the Auror Academy are useless, completely useless."
Sherlock couldn't help but roll his eyes.
No matter how much he was questioned, he would stick to the story that he was under a powerful Imperius Curse that no one could detect. Without concrete evidence, no one could prove his betrayal was intentional.
This defiant attitude was clearly orchestrated before the trial began.
"I request to speak, sir."
At this moment, Eddie, sitting diagonally from Sherlock, raised his hand with a grim expression and stood up.
(End of Chapter)
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